U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News
s p o t l i g h t Science and a Changing Climate 8 Kid’s World 12 The Most Remote Place in Alaska 14 Cape Fear River Restoration 18 what’s inside
Departments From the Director / 1 News / 2 Around the Service / 22 Our People / 32
Features s p o t l i g h t Science and a Changing Climate / 8
Kid’s World / 12 Connecting children with nature across the globe
by valerie rose redmond
The Most Remote Place in Alaska / 14 Service researchers, partners journey to St. Matthew Island
by Marc D. Romano, Marianne Aplin and Poppy Benson On the cover: Spring storm in the Great Basin in Utah. Larry Crist / USFWS from the director
Thinking and Conserving for the Long Term
am sure most of us have seen those AT&T ads survive in the future and how? What will it need and Iwhere an adult asks children what’s better: faster what can we do to help it? or slower, more or less, two things or one thing? We were thinking long term recently when we tried to They got me thinking of my own question: What’s eliminate most commercial trade in polar bears at better: a long wait or short wait? March’s meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Well, of course, waiting a short time is better. Right? Flora (CITES). The proposal fell short. Opposing countries said that trade is not a major issue and Not in conservation. Conservation is about the that polar bears are threatened by climate change. long term. Certainly, a warming climate is the overpowering issue, but trade is a growing concern. And the world Our job is to make sure wild things and wild places could have done something about it. Instead, CITES are around not just for us and our children, but for parties chose to value short-term thinking over the our children’s children and even longer. long-term survival of polar bears. Sad.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where fast is often Long-term thinking is also behind our surrogate better than slow, where more is usually better than species effort. One species is the specific target of our less, where two are valued better than one, and where conservation efforts — that gives us a goal and lets short-term thinking is more rewarding. Nowadays everyone clearly see conservation successes. But the stakes seem so much higher and long-term many other species also benefit. thinking is so challenging. For instance, since 1991, the Service and many Less than 100 years ago, there weren’t even 2 billion partners have reintroduced thousands of the really people on the planet. Now, we have more than cute black-footed ferrets into the wild. Protecting and 7 billion. By the middle of the century, we will be conserving the prairie landscape for the black-footed sharing this planet with 9 billion others, or maybe ferret supports many other species that call the 11 billion. western grasslands and sage-steppe prairie home.
No matter how you slice it, we humans are going to Most people may care only about the black-footed ask more of the planet: More food, more fiber, more ferret (did I mention they’re cute?), but we in the fuel, more fresh water. Less will be available for the conservation community can appreciate the benefits rest of what we call “biodiversity,” the wild things. coming to eagles and other raptors, mountain plovers, burrowing owls, swift fox, pronghorn, bison, several That means we cannot expect tomorrow’s world to types of prairie grouse and more. have all of today’s wild life, in all of today’s diversity and abundance, and in all of today’s places. We are emphasizing conservation work that brings the biggest long-term return on our investment. It also means that we will have to make active choices. We must decide what will come to the future with us, Surrogate species will also help us remain relevant in in what abundance and diversity, and in what places. a world where two beats one, faster beats slower, more beats less. As people are more disconnected And we’ll face the more challenging decision: from nature, they seem more and more fascinated What will not. with wild life. If we choose the right conservation targets, the right surrogates, in the right places, This doesn’t mean we are giving up on some species. people will support us. It just means that in many cases, we may not be able to prevent extinction. Mollie Beattie, the first Service Director I worked for, once said, “There’s only one conflict, and that’s We must make these decisions, thinking about the between short-term and long-term thinking.” She got long term. We must ask ourselves: Can this species it right. Here’s to playing the long game!
Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 1 Puerto Rican news briefs Woodpecker
Migratory Bird Program Grantee Wins Coveted Conservation Award
irdLife International, a world- majority of them to Latin America Brenowned organization and a and the Caribbean. The grantee of the Service’s Neotropical Migratory Bird Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act provides grant Conservation Act, has won a funding to conserve these BBVA Foundation Biodiversity species, and has funded BirdLife Conservation Award for their for the last nine years, putting Important Bird Areas program. more than $2 million toward BBVA, a Spanish foundation, the organization’s critical gives this prestigious award to a conservation work. Because the single winner in Latin America act requires a 3 to 1 match of each year, with a prize of 250,000 grant funds, this investment has euros (about $325,000). leveraged an additional $6.5 million for bird conservation. BirdLife is an organization of 117 conservation groups in as many The Service’s grant funds to this countries. Its work on Important project, and the matching funds, Bird Areas has recorded a helped BirdLife document the An Important Bird Area in whopping 2,345 biodiversity role of Important Bird Areas in Haiti in the Massif de la hotspots for birds in Central and conserving Neotropical migrants Selle provides a breeding South America. These hotspots and helped to develop an online area for black-capped help countries design habitat directory for the highest priority petrels. networks to protect the world’s areas for conservation action. most diverse birdlife, “which is Grant funding also supported proving an invaluable aid...since linking communities in Canada, birds are a key biodiversity Mexico and the United States to indicator species,” members of sites in South America to develop the prize jury noted. The jury went collaborative conservation on to praise BirdLife for “proving projects and protect birds a catalyst for new structures throughout their migratory and organizations to work journey. BirdLife will use the collaboratively on conservation BBVA Foundation award to issues across Latin American strengthen monitoring and countries.” conservation in and around Important Bird Areas that are at A biodiversity hotspot is an area risk due to habitat destruction with a large number of species. and other threats, and to further The blue-footed booby off These species-rich areas provide leverage funds from the act. the coast of Ecuador. important habitat and natural resources, particularly for wildlife struggling for survival. Identifying For more information them can help prioritize areas to BBVA Foundation Award protect to help wildlife the most.
Important Bird Areas have helped BirdLife International show that Central and South 2 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 news briefs Wintering Habits of A crucial component for the CANADA Burrowing Owls Come landscape of burrowing owls is as a Surprise the presence of badgers, prairie dogs, ground squirrels or other inter migration certainly mammals that create the burrows Wdoesn’t mean a romantic ow l: Ge o r g e Gen t ry/U S FW the owls use. While both Gregg getaway for burrowing and Johnson support the use of owls — males and females don’t artificial burrows to help the even winter in the same place. owl population, they agree that a longer-term solution is to Burrowing owls are listed as promote the health of the t i o nal endangered in Canada and as overall ecosystem owls inhabit. a species of special concern in “Artificial burrows have been a the United States, where their success, but we need to think distribution and numbers are bigger,” says Gregg. “Knowing shrinking. In order to more where the owls go in the winter effectively manage the population is one piece of the puzzle, and and, hopefully, reverse the now we have to think about decline, biologists need to know what is next.” A l f red o Co n, Cou r t esy Bird L i e I n erna more about the wintering habits of the owls. “You can’t manage a So what’s next for the species knowing half the story,” backpacking owls? Both Gregg says Service biologist Mike Breeding site and Johnson answer with one Gregg who described “gaps in word: satellites. Wintering site knowledge” about when and MEXICO where the owls winter and how Female migration Geolocators can only give many of them make the trip. H. J oh ns o n, Tr y Wellic me and L indsey Hayes. t i o n: Jane P ellicci otto , b ased n map y D avid approximate locations (e.g., Male migration within a 50-mile radius of the From 2009 to 2011, researchers actual location). To get detailed from the Service, Global Owl map ill u s t ra information on the owls’ Project and Environment Canada Burrowing owls are formally endangered in Canada and of special concern in locations, 5-gram solar-powered t i o nal came together to begin to fill the USA. This map shows wintering distribution sites for 25 adult burrowing owls, satellite transmitters will allow this gap. Ninety-three owls based on geolocator data. researchers to track the owls from Saskatchewan, Oregon in real-time. This kind of data and Washington were fitted contributes site-specific with ultra-lightweight “The data showed us the owls These results brought an knowledge of the owls’ wintering geolocators weighing less don’t all go south for the winter “aha moment” for Johnson, who areas, migration pathways and than a nickel — dubbed “owl like we thought previously,” says hypothesizes that most of the habitats. Jim G o e t z, c ou r esy Bird L i f I n erna backpacks” by the biologists. David Johnson, Director of the males stay close to home to These units record ambient Global Owl Project. Nine of 10 secure a viable burrow and “Using satellite transmitters will light levels every 10 minutes female owls wintered in California productive territory to attract help us gather data on owls in and helped determine the (the other wintered in east- returning females. “This is a other regions to help us solve owls’ winter distributions. The central Oregon). Only four of the major breakthrough in our the migration mystery,” says geolocators from 25 recaptured 15 males wintered in California; understanding of owl migration,” Johnson. burrowing owls (15 males/10 a male from Saskatchewan says Johnson, adding that females) held some surprising wintered in south Texas. The knowing where the owls Amanda Fortin, External Affairs, t i o nal data for biologists. remainder of the males wintered winter has conservation and Pacific Region in east-central Washington; management implications. “Now some of the Oregon owls we know that these owls have a actually moved north into large capacity for movement, and Washington. One male (from we need to make sure we are Washington) stayed on its thinking in terms of landscape- territory over the winter. level conservation.” A mir o P erez L er ou x, c r t esy Bird i f e I n erna Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 3 news briefs Career Awareness Toolkit Shows Students the Many Jobs in the Service nna Harris, the She says that even parents Aimplementation coordinator have been interested in her U S FW of Conserving the Future, the presentations showing such job 10-year strategic plan for the possibilities in the Service as National Wildlife Refuge System, pilot, computer professional or is an economist by trade and is environmental educator. at home in the world of computer presentations. But thanks to Students sometimes say, the Service’s Career Awareness “Wow, I didn’t know this,” and Toolkit (CAT), she is also Harris says she can point them comfortable introducing students in the right direction to get more to conservation careers, without information. “It’s been really the use of PowerPoint. helpful,” she says. Developed in 2010 by the She has used the Jeopardy board Service’s National Conservation at fishing camps and in local high Training Center’s Career school classrooms and the career Awareness Branch, the toolkit wheel at a local middle-school provides Service members with a Outdoors Day events. collection of interactive games, exhibit resources, lesson plans, Service employees can access materials and ideas to promote the toolkit simply by typing CAT careers in the Service. into a Service web browser. Students practice removing birds from a net, from the Day In The Life of a Wildlife Harris admits she is not well- Biologist lesson plan of the toolkit. versed in educational outreach and finds it very handy “to have this resource that I can just take U S FW out of the box — it makes it easy.” Harris uses the “Put a A Spin on Your Career” wheel and a “Guess my Career” Jeopardy board to show there are “more careers at the Fish and Wildlife Service than just a biologist,” combatting a stereotype she says she hears a lot. Shelly Belin of the Mescalero Tribal Fish Hatchery teaches students about conservation careers using the Career wheel. 4 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 news briefs Conservation Plan Keeps Edwards Aquifer Flowing or Texans suffering through Fthe seventh straight year of drought, the summer of 1956 seemed especially brutal. Crops were on the verge of failing yet again, and livestock were struggling to survive on the parched range. Then the unthinkable happened. On June 13, Comal Springs, part of the Edwards Aquifer system, one of A kayaker navigates near Texas the largest freshwater springs in wild-rice, another endangered the Southwest and a key source species covered by the EARIP HCP. of water, stopped flowing for the first time in recorded history. estuaries where they spend their By the 1990s, some had become for the people and the entire Just this year, the Service and winters on the Texas coast. concerned that unregulated south-central Texas economy that stakeholders began implementing The spring-fed Comal and San groundwater pumping coupled rely on this water. a Habitat Conservation Plan that Marcos rivers also host the with another drought like that of balances conservation goals for fountain darter, a small fish the 1950s could spell disaster for Under the leadership of EARIP ards Aqu i f er Autho ri t y listed species while providing found nowhere else in the world. the area’s fish and wildlife. A Manager Dr. Robert Gulley, the uninterrupted water supplies for series of legal battles ensued, stakeholders built consensus more than 2 million Texans that For more than four months in and a federal court directed around a plan in which all rely on the Edwards Aquifer as 1956, the pools of water in the Texas and the Service to maintain participants agreed to contribute their primary water source. drying Comal riverbed slowly springflows that would protect water to protect the springs Cou r t esy of th e E d w shriveled under the summer sun. the area’s unique native wildlife. during drought, and they crafted The Edwards Aquifer has been Rain on November 4 brought Fifty years after the 1956 drought, the Habitat Conservation Plan to called an “underground river” the springs back to life. But in 2006, the Service invited help secure the regional economy that flows 180 miles through by then, the fountain darters interested parties to discuss dependent upon the waters of the south-central Texas to emerge at in the Comal River were gone. approaches to the challenges of Edwards Aquifer while achieving the springs at Comal and nearby In the 1970s, fountain darters aquifer management to balance recovery goals for listed species. San Marcos. Clean fresh water were reintroduced to Comal. the region’s water needs with has attracted the region’s those of listed species. The The EARIP and the Service are inhabitants for as long as people Concerned citizens and Edwards Aquifer Recovery committed to this plan that have been in Texas. Spanish researchers began realizing that Implementation Program (EARIP) ensures that the springs at Comal missionaries reported large the Edwards Aquifer was like no was created to understand the and San Marcos will continue to encampments of Native other ecosystem. More than 40 needs of the area’s growing flow, and that species including Americans when they first arrived native plants and animals are population, requirements of the fountain darter and the Texas at Comal Springs in 1691. The found nowhere else in the world. listed species and the potential blind salamander will survive Edwards Aquifer also supports It was also becoming apparent effects of a drought like the one even if Texas experiences many unique flora and fauna such that these species could face the in the 1950s. another drought like the one that as the Texas blind salamander, same fate as the fountain darters caused Comal Springs to stop confined to the aquifer’s dark at Comal Springs. Meanwhile, The EARIP determined that flowing on that hot summer day caves and subterranean waters Texas’ human population current pumping volumes during in 1956. for so long it has lost the need for continued to grow, and the a drought like the one of the eyes. Whooping cranes depend expanding cities, farms and 1950s would stop springflows at Kevin Connally, Austin Ecological on the inflows from the springs of industries began to exert greater Comal Springs for more than 39 Services Field Office, Southwest the Edwards Aquifer to maintain demands on the water supply months. This would be a disaster Region shared by the region’s wildlife. not just for the area’s wildlife but Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 5 news briefs N O AA CITES Meeting Ends With Support for Many U.S. Priorities CITES Parties adopted rules to protect manta rays. n March 15, 2013, the To battle the ongoing ivory crisis, The CITES Parties also agreed OConvention on International CITES Parties strengthened to add a number of timber species Trade in Endangered Species of controls on ivory trade by to the CITES Appendices. These Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) creating an Ivory Enforcement include proposals put forward Parties also adopted a proposal wrapped up its 16th Meeting of Task Force, increasing monitoring by Madagascar to list their for the creation of a musical the Conference of the Parties and cooperative investigative native populations of rosewood instrument passport program, (CoP16) in Bangkok, Thailand. The actions regarding illegal ivory and ebony and proposals by making it easier for musicians to conference was an overwhelming trade, and adopting a series of Belize to list three species of travel internationally with their success, with approval for many country-specific, time-bound rosewood. These listings will instruments through the issuance U.S. proposals to increase actions for those countries acting strongly support the efforts of of just one document. protections for native and foreign as source, transit or consumer for these countries to ensure that species as well as to strengthen illegal ivory trade. the international timber trade CoP16 set a standard for the implementation of CITES. is conducted legally and in a international collaboration to Rhinos also received additional sustainable manner. successfully conserve wildlife. This meeting, which brought protection as CITES Parties The U.S. delegates left the together representatives from agreed to a series of actions In addition to the increased conference hopeful for the future, more than 150 countries to for both rhino range states and protection of wildlife, CoP16 knowing that CoP16 marked a discuss current issues in wildlife consumer countries to more passed several resolutions to momentous occasion for wildlife trade, marked a huge milestone effectively combat poaching and clarify, simplify and strengthen conservation and international in protection of sharks and illegal rhino horn trade, including CITES rules. These included the cooperation. manta rays. Colombia, along with country-specific, time-bound adoption of a resolution that the United States and Brazil, actions particularly focusing on makes CITES a more effective Claire Hood, International Affairs, submitted a proposal to include Mozambique and Vietnam. tool in preserving marine species. Headquarters oceanic whitetip sharks in CITES Appendix II to ensure that trade is legal and sustainable. This proposal as well as others to Opening Ceremonies of CITES CoP16. protect porbeagle sharks, three species of hammerheads and manta rays were all adopted. Another victory at CoP16 was widespread protection for freshwater turtles. CITES Parties (member countries) voted to increase protections for 44 species of Asian freshwater turtles and tortoises and three species of North American turtles. The United States had jointly submitted with China two proposals to increase CITES protection for a number of Asian softshell and hardshell turtle species. These proposals were agreed to by consensus with strong support voiced by range states and non-range states. 6 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 news briefs N O AA Birds of a Feather Flock to National Wildlife Refuges ome national wildlife refuges Waterfowl and wading birds Bird migration is an ever- Barry Jones, visitor services Sattract more birds from a aren’t the only migratory birds to changing dynamic affected by specialist at Quivira Refuge, is single species than can be found benefit from refuge protection, shifts in climate, habitat and food wary of blaming any one cause, anywhere else in the country or the count shows. Refuges also availability, and early reports though. “It could be there aren’t continent, according to data from recorded national-high counts from the 2012–13 Christmas Bird that many birds in the region, or the Christmas Bird Count, the for birds of prey such as falcons Count suggested the picture is they would be here. It could just National Audubon Society- and hawks; galliformes such changing. Some refuges with be a matter of timing. There could sponsored event involving tens of as turkey and grouse; pelagic high species counts in 2011–12 be birds to the north of us that thousands of volunteers across seabirds including petrels, reported lower numbers after haven’t come through. There are the country. albatross, shearwaters, boobies two and a half years of drought. so many factors.” and tropicbirds; shorebirds Quivira Refuge in Kansas, for Results from the 2011–12 count such as plovers, sandpipers example, counted 1,000 snow were published by Audubon in and dowitchers; and passerines geese in the most recent count, Get information on the the journal North American such as blackbirds, jays and down from 4,000 in 2011, 25,000 Christmas Bird Count: Birds and confirm refuges’ flycatchers. in 2010, and 111,000 in 2009. Take snow geese, for example. Nowhere in North, South or Central America could you find more snow geese between December 14, 2011, and January 5, 2012, than the 490,000 tallied at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in western Missouri. U S FW Tundra swans? Nowhere were more spotted than the 37,000 counted in that same period at Mattamuskeet Refuge in coastal North Carolina. Ditto for the 30,000 sandhill cranes counted at Muleshoe Refuge in west Texas, the 12,500 ring-necked ducks at White River Refuge in Arkansas, and the 3,600 red-throated loons at Back Bay Refuge along Virginia’s southeastern coast. And on it goes. U S FW All told, Audubon lists 70 bird species for which country-high Snow geese gather at Squaw Creek or continent-high counts were National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri. recorded in areas wholly or partly occupied by national wildlife refuges. Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 7 spotlight: science and a changing climate Building for the Future In the face of landscape-scale stressors, Refuge Manager and wildlife biologist Bill Radke knows the future is now for threatened habitats. Tanned, blonde and rugged—think part California surfer, part Western cowboy— Bill Radke, refuge manager of the San Bernardino and Bill Radke has a love affair with the environment and a mission to protect it. Wearing the Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuges in the his official uniform, a camera bag slung over his shoulder and a disarming sense of southwest borderlands, assisting with research on the humor, he is all suited up for a day’s work in southern Arizona’s Cochise County. rare gila monster lizard. hat work could be anything from Sonora. The Service acquired these lands Tmonitoring wildlife trends with digital in the 1980s to catch and store precious photography, to collaborating with local water resources and provide habitat for ranchers on restoring wetland habitat, to eight species of native fish, some of which seeking cooperative solutions in a border are federally listed as threatened or region where landscape protection and endangered. national security interests sometimes clash. It helps that Radke, an ecologist For thousands of years the valley wetlands and manager with the Service for have attracted a variety of creatures— three decades, is also a sworn officer some with fins, some with four legs and of the law. “We want to get the bad guy— some with two. A large colony of lesser but do it in an environmentally sensitive long-nosed bats live in the adjacent way,” he says. mountains and visit the watershed nightly to feast on flowering agave plants. More Radke is in charge of the San Bernardino than 355 documented migratory birds Bill R ad k e/U S FW National Wildlife Refuge and the Leslie have dropped by to quench their thirst and A Service officer and Border Patrol agent talk with a Canyon National Wildlife Refuge in the refuel their batteries en route to cooler suspect. small Rio Yaqui watershed, which bumps points north. up against the U.S.-Mexican border at 8 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 An occasional endangered ocelot or jaguar Science-Based Management around the boundary. They were visionary wanders over the border to spend a little in encompassing the whole watershed, and time on the refuges, and several of their Science-based management requires they viewed it as an entire landscape non-endangered cousins, including making critical decisions in the face of instead of just the occupied habitat for mountain lions and bobcats, call the uncertainty and incomplete information, these endangered fish,” says Radke. refuges home. Radke and his science- and Radke and the Service are based management team use non-invasive aggressively moving in that direction. The Service owns about one-tenth of the digital trail cameras to document the In a world of accelerating climate change, Leslie Canyon Refuge boundary acreage, passage of these and other mammals the Service aims to conserve habitats which was essentially the occupied habitat through the U.S.-Mexican corridor. on a significantly larger scale and at a for the fish. The remaining upstream land considerably faster rate. Ensuring a is privately owned. Over the last 12 years, As for human traffic, “This was a very bright future for fish and wildlife in the the Service has purchased conservation important trade route,” says Radke, face of widespread environmental threats easements on those private lands to make recalling the region’s colorful past. will require conservation efforts by sure that habitats are available for these “You can find seashells from the Sea of many different individuals, agencies species within the entire acquisition Cortez that certainly didn’t get here on and organizations at a landscape scale. boundary of the refuge. their own.” Scientists and conservationists will work together to develop new approaches to “It lets the Service have some control over Long before Francisco Coronado, the scientific modeling and forecasting, test the destiny of these fish, but it also gives Spanish conquistador, arrived with his them in action, learn from experience, landowners control over their own destiny. army in 1540 to seek the fabled Seven and continually improve. It isn’t this clash between ‘I want to ranch’ Cities of Gold, the fertile watershed was or ‘I want to protect endangered fish,’” a major passage for migrating tribes “The world has changed over time. says Radke. If the species continue to of Native Americans. Apache leader We know this from fossil records, so we decline, the Service can move the fish Geronimo used the valley as an escape can’t lock ourselves into thinking that onto private lands with available water in hatch in the 19th century—jumping back everything will always be the same,” the form of stock tanks, springs, lakes or and forth between jurisdictions when says Radke. “The Service’s emphasis on ponds—most of which were originally U.S. and Mexican armies were both in reinvigorating science through science constructed for livestock management. hot pursuit. applications, refuge inventory and This positive collaborative relationship H u m b er to Ro dri gu ez monitoring programs, and similar efforts with others has led to a win-win formula Climate Change are helping reduce scientific uncertainty for landscape conservation and and help people deal with change, which endangered species recovery. Tough as he was, Geronimo eventually tends to be a struggle for humans.” surrendered to U.S. authorities. Today Southwest Region Science Applications southern Arizona faces a more intractable He worries that, as a society, we tend to and NWRS challenge. “Climate change wasn’t on my get caught up in the blame game—a radar screen when I came here 12 years dangerous distraction at best. “We should ago,” says Radke. For a dozen years, be focusing on how we can be adaptable he and his team have been monitoring enough to survive changing patterns and Radke and Arizona Game and Fish Biologist Sharon the groundwater, and the data are trends instead of debating whether or not Lashway working a pool in Rucker Creek. disconcerting. Water flowing in Leslie climate change is manmade or whose fault Creek through Leslie Canyon during it is,” says Radke. the month of June relies on precipitation that fell on the Chiricahua Mountains Humor helps when it comes to finding the previous winter, and the decline in common ground among divergent interest groundwater matches the decline in groups. As a boy, Radke was the class C . Loh ren g el / U S FW mountain snowfall. Winter snowstorms clown. As an adult problem-solver, he finds still turn the mountains white, but the that poking gentle fun during a group snow melts quickly, and there hasn’t been presentation or one-on-one encounter a been a significant snow pack for the last diffuses the tension in the room and helps decade. As a result, the aquifers are not to personalize the conversation. recharging sufficiently to sustain the watershed. The stream that used to serve Win-Win Solution up liquid refreshment to wildlife at the Leslie Canyon Refuge all year round now Climate change is a long-term issue, but runs dry except immediately after a for threatened habitats the future is now. thunderstorm. A plan underway in Leslie Canyon is a promising model for environmental collaboration elsewhere. When the water began drying up in Leslie Canyon, the Service collaborated with upstream landowners to protect threatened fish species. “Refuge planners didn’t just establish a protected area and put a fence Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 9 spotlight rising to the challenge of climate change The National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy, released in March, is the nation’s first strategy to help public and private decision-makers prepare for and reduce the impacts of climate change on species, ecosystems, and the people and economies that depend on them. he strategy is intended to guide n Support adaptive management through The strategy’s development was guided by Tthe nation’s efforts over the next integrated observation and monitoring and an innovative partnership of federal, state five years to respond to impacts of use of decision-support tools; and tribal fish and wildlife conservation climate change on our natural resources agencies in response to a 2010 call by the including: changing species distributions n Increase knowledge and information U.S. Congress for a national, government- and migration patterns, the spread of on impacts and responses of fish, wildlife wide climate adaptation strategy to assist wildlife diseases and invasive species, the and plants; fish, wildlife and plants, and related inundation of coastal habitats with rising ecological processes in surviving the sea levels, changing productivity of our n Increase awareness and motivate action impacts of climate change. More than coastal oceans and changes in freshwater to safeguard fish, wildlife and plants; 90 researchers and managers from natural availability with shifting precipitation and resource management agencies across habitat types. n Reduce non-climate stressors to help fish, the country participated in drafting wildlife, plants and ecosystems adapt. the strategy. The strategy, designed to give decision- makers the tools to consider and respond “For years, hunters and anglers across the The partnership was co-led by the Service, to climate change as part of their ongoing country have been telling the Theodore the Department of Commerce’s National activities, identifies seven key steps to Roosevelt Conservation Partnership that Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration help safeguard the nation’s fish, wildlife we need to address climate change head on. and the New York State Department of and plants in a changing climate: The National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Environmental Conservation Climate Adaptation Strategy offers the kind (representing state fish and wildlife n Conserve habitat to support healthy of prudent action that Theodore Roosevelt agencies). An intergovernmental steering fish, wildlife and plant populations and himself would have demanded to deal with committee that included representatives ecosystem functions; climate change,” said Whit Fosburgh, from 15 federal agencies, five state fish president and CEO of the Theodore and wildlife agencies, and two inter-tribal n Manage species and habitats to Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. commissions oversaw development of the protect ecosystem functions and provide “Roosevelt would have used his bully pulpit strategy with support from the Association sustainable cultural, subsistence, to tell us that this strategy needs to be of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. recreational and commercial use; implemented—not tomorrow, but now.” n Enhance capacity for effective The National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy can be found on the management; web at www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov 10 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 spotlight Bringing Climate Data Out of the Dark in California among climate models. The Commons also You’re a land manager trying to figure out how soon sea level hosts datasets —providing the physical rise will put your bay-front hiking trail under water. Or you’re an server and architecture for storing and disseminating information. In other words, agricultural planner researching what kind of crops a particular it provides the virtual shelf space for information, as well as the card catalog plot will support in the future, given climate-driven changes in and reference librarians. rainfall. Where do you turn for information? DiPietro says that the more users participate in uploading data and discussing technical issues on the site’s he California Climate Commons aims to forums, the more valuable the Commons Tbe the go-to library, data repository and will become. “We hope to build a online forum for planners, land managers community of practice, and the library and scientists who need up-to-date climate is just one piece,” she says. change data and analysis. “We want to make the information easy to navigate, Tom Robinson, a planner at the Sonoma transparent and responsive to changing County Agricultural Preservation and needs,” says Deanne DiPietro, project lead Open Space District, used information for the Commons, which is based at PRBO from the Commons to help recommend Conservation Science’s office in Petaluma, sites for preservation that will provide California. the greatest ecosystem benefits, given expected changes in the climate. He As shelves groan with new research needed to get a sense of what the habitat, reports and servers swell with terabytes precipitation and groundwater conditions of data on everything from groundwater in the vicinity of certain parcels are now— movement to bird distribution, the need and what they are likely to be in 50 years. for someone to organize the research, put it in context, and make it available in Through the Commons, Robinson got this formats data users need was increasingly information from the California Basin obvious. So the California Landscape Characterization Model, which was Conservation Cooperative (Cal LCC) in created by Lorraine and Alan Flint of the mid-2011 booted up the Commons. U.S. Geological Survey and published by the California Energy Commission. While scientists will find this information hub useful, it’s aimed primarily at Now, anyone with an Internet connection practitioners who need to make on-the- can access the data and find historic ground decisions about land acquisition, patterns as well as projections from four restoration design and regulatory policy future climate scenarios. Robinson says changes. The creators of the Commons that “breaking down research silos” is hope it will become a digital watering hole climate.calcommons.org what is exciting about the Commons. where researchers and land managers By meeting up in the ether, researchers exchange information and analysis so they DiPietro and the rest of the five-person and practitioners can collaborate more actually shape decision-making. As a team who spend time managing the effectively to make good decisions on funder of climate research, the Cal LCC Climate Commons don’t just organize and the ground. wants to make sure that its investments in index datasets and reports. They write science get as widely used as possible. guides to explain issues of data scale and Susan K. Moffat, California LCC resolution, and detail the differences Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 11 kids’World Connecting Children Everywhere you look, you see efforts to engage children with with Nature nature. This is particularly important because a lack of outdoor across the Globe activity has been linked to a childhood health crisis with climbing rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, attention deficit-hyperactivity by valerie rose redmond disorder and depression. Research shows that a connection to Above left: Ben Faulks stars in Mr. nature contributes to human health and well-being. When children Bloom’s Nursery. Above right: Andy’s Wild Adventures is popular online as experience the outdoors before age 11, it shapes their attitudes well as on TV. about nature as adults. 12 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 he Service’s Connecting People with In one wildlife adventure, Day shrinks The Service’s Midwest Region has TNature Working Group is hard at work down and travels to Yellowstone National adopted several effective strategies on efforts to interest children in nature Park to watch otters. In other episodes, designed to ensure the future of and outdoor activity. The group’s national Day observes a Chacma baboon and he conservation. One program engaged strategy focuses on goals ranging from travels to the Galapagos Islands in South students from the University of Missouri communicating with external audiences America in search of giant tortoises. School of Journalism in a partnership to to building partnerships and leveraging develop a targeted advertising campaign resources to encourage people of all ages “What’s so lovely [is] because you’re designed to reach the young adult to get outdoors. featuring animals from all over the world,” market. Dubbed Mojo, the program was Benbow says, “you’re opening up all the spearheaded by Ashley Spratt in the Decision-making based on this disconnect different areas to the preschool audience.” External Affairs Office and made huge to the natural world will undoubtedly have The series also has an online offering, and strides. To learn more about this effort ramifications, as Richard Louv notes in both have been enormously successful. visit: Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 13 The Most Remote Place inalaska 14 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 Service Researchers, Partners Journey to St. Matthew Island by Marc D. Romano, Marianne Aplin and Poppy Benson The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is home to some 40 million nesting seabirds and represents the very vision of wilderness. Its 3.4 million acres encompass 2,500 far-flung islands reaching from the “panhandle” of southeast Alaska, west to the tip of the Aleutian Islands, and north beyond the Arctic Circle to the frozen shores of the Chukchi Sea. Lonely St. Matthew Island stands out as not only the most remote island on the refuge but the most remote location in Alaska. » Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 15 The closest wait two days for rough seas to calm so was discovered rather unexpectedly, right they could land. next to the team’s camp site. Apparently a good camp site centuries ago is still a good civilization Nearly a million seabirds nest on Hall camp site these days. to st. matthew is Island, which is a long-term seabird the Cu-pik Eskimo village of Mekoryuk monitoring site for the refuge. Fulmars, Despite the lack of a human population on (pop. 191) more than 200 miles away on puffins, auklets, cormorants, kittiwakes the islands, the team was never completely Nunivak Island. That’s about the same and murres called from their steep cliff alone. Arctic and red foxes greeted visitors distance as from Boston to New York nests to greet the landing party, while with a watchful eye. The fox species and previ ou s o verlea f : M arc Ro man /U S FW City, but traveling from Mekoryuk to others swarmed to the sea and back on the St. Matthew singing vole are the only St. Matthew you won’t cross a single feeding forays, unconcerned about the year-round terrestrial mammals found road, see a single house or likely see new arrivals. there today. Island isolation breeds species another human. found nowhere else. Known as endemics, Hall’s nesting colonies have been counted the St. Matthew Islands have two such Last July, an interdisciplinary team approximately every five years since 1983, species, the singing vole and McKay’s of 13 researchers boarded the Service and the data show that nearly all seabird bunting, one of North America’s rarest vessel R/V Ti^gla^x bound for St. Matthew species have experienced population songbirds. to conduct intense seabird and other declines. Data collected on this journey surveys—appropriately termed a should help provide clues to the current Dr. David Klein, professor emeritus at “bioblitz.” Owing to the location, refuge status of seabirds, which may be the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, is staff only visit the island, as well as two particularly vulnerable to climate change. working on reconstructing St. Matthew’s smaller islands nearby, Hall and Pinnacle, past. He has visited the island six times about every five years. This recent Despite the July arrival, ice still hugged during the last 55 years and on this visit visit by the researchers was patterned parts of the rugged coastline of St. studied geology, climate and paleo- loosely after an 1899 expedition to Matthew, while the island itself offered a environment, and their influence on the St. Matthew Island. spectacular display of brightly colored wildlife community. He hopes evidence flowering plants. The island is a plant from this trip will provide a window into Wealthy railroad tycoon Edward collector’s dream, and the team’s botanist the distant past, the last Glacial Maximum. Harriman funded an Alaska expedition (Monte Garroutte, a graduate student at During that period, these islands were that year on a retrofitted steamship. the University of Alaska, Fairbanks) kept not so isolated, since the lower sea levels To plan it, Harriman turned to C. Hart very busy. Garroutte managed to collect connected St. Matthew to both the Asian Merriam, the first chief of the Division of and identify 227 species, including an and North American mainlands. Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy, iris that has never been recorded on St. the Service’s predecessor. Merriam put Matthew. His collections from Hall Island Studying such a remote place represents a together a group of world renowned are believed to be some of the first plant considerable investment of people, effort, scientists, artists, photographers and specimens ever obtained from that island. time and money, and from the beginning naturalists (including John Muir, George Other researchers on the team conducted this expedition was planned to include as Bird Grinnell, William Dall, John surveys for voles, fish and invertebrates. many research partners as possible. Burroughs and Louis Aggasiz Fuertes) to explore and document the trip along Although the islands are uninhabited The Alaska Maritime Refuge is unique Alaska’s coast and on to Siberia. One of today, that hasn’t always been the case. among refuges because it was created in their stops was St. Matthew Island, and Dennis Griffin, an archaeologist with part to support an international science their accounts helped persuade President the State of Oregon Heritage Program program. The 2012 St. Matthew Teddy Roosevelt to protect the three who has extensive experience working Expedition is an example of how the islands as the Bering Sea Reservation, in Alaska, accompanied the biological refuge facilitates collaborative scientific one of Alaska’s first wildlife refuges. researchers to the islands. His research, using the R/V Ti^gla^x as a investigations focused on what is believed platform to access such unique wild and Last summer’s expedition also assembled to be a 400-year-old house site used by the remote islands. Scientific expeditions like a world-class crew of scientists and sailors, Thule people and a separate house site this help track the health of the refuge, and the severe and unpredictable Bering believed to be used by an 1810 Russian while providing the information needed for Sea weather became the first challenge. fur hunting expedition. Both sites yielded effective management of this important important artifacts including pottery, bone resource. Fog grounded them for several days in tools and animal remains that will help Anchorage and once the ship reached St. confirm details of the occupation of these Marc D. Romano, Marianne Aplin and Poppy Matthew, expedition participants had to sites. Interestingly, one of the historic sites Benson, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Region 16 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 Mo n t e Garr outt Although irises are common in other parts of Alaska, they were not recorded on St. Matthew Island until 2012. In The Footprints of Polar Bears We landed on St. Matthew Island early on a cold gray August morning, and judge our astonishment at finding hundreds of large polar bears...lazily sleeping in grassy hollows, or digging up grass and other roots , browsing like hogs. — Henry Wood Elliott 1875 u s fw Dr. David Klein (left) checks out an old polar The horned puffin bear trail on St. Matthew Island. In the later is one of the most part of the 19th century, St. Matthew Island easily recognizable was home to an estimated 250 polar bears. birds of St. Matthew These polar bears were unique because, Island. Their striking unlike the bears to the north that follow the bills and black and pack ice as it retreats during the summer, white plumage are these bears spent summer on the island. unmistakable. Sadly, the polar bears of St. Matthew Island were killed off during the 1890s, but their trails are still visible today, etched into the landscape. Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 17 Before: The dam at the Cape Fear River before construction of the During: A sign during construction of rock-arch rapids. the arch details its benefits to fish. A river restoration project that started as a way to help migrating Captain Doug Springer, former executive director of Cape Fear River Watch, fish like the federally listed shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic remembers one of his first initiatives in 2006–2007 — to start an awareness : J o s hu a raa b e sturgeon and game fish like shad and striped bass has evolved campaign for river restoration and find consensus on how to accomplish that into a powerful tool for economic development and community restoration. “We wanted to open fish revitalization on the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, 40 miles passage, but taking down the dam wasn’t going to happen and people were going northwest of Wilmington. to tug forever. We were under drought conditions, so the water intakes were needed. Taking the dams out was not a he Cape Fear River Basin is the largest original structure and purpose of the conceivable option.” : U. S . A rmy Co rps of E n g ineers, middle + ri ght Tin the state, covering 9,322 square dam while creating a way for fish to get le ft miles and 6,049 linear stream miles. It is over the dam, including pools where fish William Kopp, chairman of the Lower one of just four basins entirely within the can swim and rest at their own pace Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority, North Carolina state boundaries. It flows while moving upstream to spawn. This explains that Brunswick, Hanover and southeast from the north central Piedmont innovative approach to fish passage is an Pender counties get raw drinking water region of the state, near Greensboro, to improvement over fish ladders and other behind Lock and Dam No.1. “Taking down the Atlantic Ocean near Wilmington. engineered solutions because it looks the dams would have been extremely (to a fish) like a natural shoal on the river. detrimental. The rock-arch rapid is a And it was on the Cape Fear River, in win-win for both the environment and southern Bladen County, that the U.S. Redesigning the dam to emulate nature is maintaining the water supply for half a Army Corps of Engineers built a $13 redefining the role of the Cape Fear River million people,” says Kopp. million rock-arch rapid across the face as a working river. The lock and dams on of Lock and Dam No. 1 with federal the Cape Fear River were built between Building rock-arch rapids supports the Recovery Act funds. Construction started 1915 and 1935 to promote commercial aging dams, maintains water supply and in June 2011 and was completed in navigation. Today, the river is no longer allows migratory fish to swim over the November 2012. a route for commercial traffic, but cities dams. The North Carolina Division of and businesses benefit from the water Marine Fisheries conducted a tagging This structure, a collection of strategically supply pools created by the lock and study while the rock-arch rapids were placed rocks and boulders, retained the dam systems. under construction and found three total 18 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 After: The completed arch opens the river to fish migration. Water in motion, an unstoppable force for change and inspiration fish, one American shad and two striped enhanced outdoor recreation and tourism,” Indeed, people are moving to the area. bass, swam over the dam at Lock and Dam Wicker says. According to the North Carolina Office No. 1 on their own. For the next two years, of State Budget and Management, : J o s hu a raa b e North Carolina State University will Captain Jot Owens, an outfitter growth rates in Brunswick and New evaluate fish passage over the redesigned specializing in fishing trips, explains that Hanover counties are among the highest Lock and Dam No. 1 with a primary focus fishermen are excited about the arch in the state. on anadromous fish migrations in the rapids because opening the Cape Fear spring. Additional efforts are underway to River to striped bass migration will turn Expanded environmental, recreational and explore the possibility of a fall migration the river into a year-round fishing educational opportunities will benefit most for sturgeon. destination. “Striped bass is a winter directly the town of East Arcadia, near fishery, so it will fill the tourism industry Lock and Dam No. 1 in Bladen County. “For us at the Fish and Wildlife Service, gap from January through March for local Every spring, this community celebrates : U. S . A rmy Co rps of E n g ineers, middle + ri ght the benefits of the rock-arch rapids to businesses like hotels and tackle shops,” its heritage at the Cape Fear River Shad le ft fish are unbeatable”, says Mike Wicker, Owens says. Festival. Maybe this year, as people eat Coastal Program coordinator for the fried shad, steamed roe and hush puppies, Service. Conservation partners would Captain Charles Robbins with Cape Fear they will look over the river and count how like to build two more rock-arch rapids River Adventures offers guided canoe many of the American shad returning to at Lock and Dams No. 2 and No. 3 to and kayak trips. Robbins has seen the Cape Fear River make it through the reestablish fish stock in the Cape Fear increased business since the word got out rapids. River basin at Elizabethtown and about the rapids. Fayetteville respectively, Wicker says. Lilibeth Serrano, Public Affairs Specialist, Partners are seeking funding from state, Springer, who now runs a business called Southeast Region federal and private sources, he adds. Wilmington Water Tours, takes people up the river through the lock and dams in a Kemp Burdette, executive director for the Cape “The Service’s Coastal Program restores Catamaran. He says, “The restoration is Fear River Watch, collaborated on the story. migratory fish stocks to historical levels an inspiration for us and the people that by allowing fish to reach their former come here. The business is growing even spawning areas. The Coastal Program also in tough economic times,” he adds. “When works to preserve and enhance the coastal I show the river and the rapids to visitors, environment that helps define North they go back home ready to move here,” Carolina. These actions benefit both Springer says. nature and the state’s economy through Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 19 by Liisa Schmoele, Megan Cook and Dominic Bachman A Lifetime Investment The Wildlife Society’s Leadership Institute Last year, three Service biologists were among 10 early- career professionals selected to participate in The Wildlife Society’s Leadership Institute, a leadership development program geared toward biologists at the beginning of their careers. The Leadership Institute (LI) launched in 2006 to help prepare up-and-coming biologists to fill leadership roles and positions vacated in the mass retirement of managers forecast for the coming years. The three were Dominic Bachman from Modoc National Wildlife Refuge in California, Megan Cook from the Office of the Science Advisor at Headquarters and Liisa Schmoele from the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office in California. They participated in Service biologists at the Leadership Institute: a variety of assignments from May until October 2012 that Megan Cook (from left to right), Dominic Bachman and Liisa Schmoele. culminated at The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon. This is their story: 20 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 ur six months in LI were challenging These thought-provoking assignments Lindsay Smythe to speak with current Oyet well worth the effort. We read redefined how we view leadership and students and seasoned biologists about books, interviewed distinguished our current, future and potential roles as career options. All three are Service wildlifers for the Conserving Our Wildlife leaders in the wildlife profession. One wildlife biologists and former SCEP Conservation Heritage Program and unexpected lesson was that being a good students who have worked all across the delved into issues important and relevant leader begins with knowing yourself. country and connected really well with the to the wildlife field. Dominic interviewed Paul Bailey, a 35-year diverse people interested in the Service. veteran of his local U.S. Forest Service One of Liisa’s favorite assignments was to office and a third-generation native to the Well, now what? If there is one thing LI lead a discussion on a leadership issue of county Dominic works in. Paul’s face lit up graduates are encouraged to do, it is to interest. It was slightly overwhelming at when he talked about the good mentors take on greater leadership roles within first, given that this was only our second and leaders he worked with in the Forest The Wildlife Society and our careers. We assignment and Liisa was not accustomed Service and on major fires. The most discovered a common theme among the to thinking about leadership issues, much memorable part of the interview was three of us is our strong motivation to give less leading a discussion on one! She Paul saying “a good leader must be back to the profession. Protecting wild happened to read Anne-Marie Slaughter’s comfortable in their own skin.” This really things and wild places are the reasons we article in The Atlantic around the same resonated with Dominic because the best entered this field, and we feel strongly time (“Why Women Still Can’t Have It supervisors, coaches and mentors in his that in order to do that, we must remain All”) and a light bulb went off. Liisa held a life have all been unbelievably comfortable relevant to the public and strengthen the conversation with Amy Salveter and Kelly with themselves. Dominic was also wildlife profession through supporting Srigley Werner of the Service and Esther shocked to learn that Paul has hunted at diversity and inclusiveness. Dominic and Stroh with U.S. Geological Survey about Modoc NWR every year since the hunting Liisa are continuing to recruit and mentor why the wildlife conservation field has so program opened in 1961, certainly the young professionals by giving USAJobs few women in leadership positions and only person to have done so! Dominic felt workshops and recruiting at career fairs how to improve recruitment of women enriched to speak with someone with whenever possible. Megan and Liisa are leaders. It was amazing to speak candidly such a wealth of traditional ecological both working with TWS Ethnic and with these women about their experiences knowledge about the refuge and has since Gender Diversity Working Group to and to realize that at one point, all of them consulted Paul several times and even increase the recognition of wildlife had been in the same place Liisa is in now. persuaded him to join Modoc NWR’s conservation as a career path for high Liisa carried this theme through the Hunting Working Group. school and college students interested in remainder of her assignments as well as science, technology, engineering and math her current involvement as a mentor and At the conference in Portland, our time (STEM), and especially highlighting the in working groups. was spent in TWS Council meetings (a lot great work that biologists from under- actually happens at those, it turns out), represented groups are doing. We intend For the same assignment, Megan led a serving as mentors in student-professional to focus our energy and new insights on discussion on barriers to the wildlife activities and participating in numerous these issues, and know we will be most profession, focusing on our current discussions and functions with the current effective when we apply our passion to model of having to accept low-paying or leaders of our field. what we do every day and remember to unpaid positions to obtain the necessary enjoy ourselves while we are at it! experience to enter the profession. One of the most vivid moments for Liisa Individuals from minority groups was a panel comprised of Robin West, We face many challenges as we begin our disproportionately come from EJ Williams, Jim Miller and Jack Ward careers, individually and as the Service, economically disadvantaged backgrounds Thomas. The combined experience and but those same challenges inspire us to and are therefore less likely to be able to leadership exuding from them was almost take advantage of the opportunities they take an unpaid internship. This critical palpable. She took pages of notes full of bring. The Leadership Institute was an issue is missing from the conversation. quotes like “you can’t lead with email” excellent opportunity for leadership Megan also received insights on this topic (Jack) and “leadership is an activity” development, and we left Portland with a through her Heritage program interview (EJ). Much of the wisdom passed on to us broader sense of the many roles we play in of Dr. Mamie Parker, retired Assistant in those three hours also applies to our wildlife conservation and how integrating Director of Fisheries and Habitat personal lives: be passionate, persistent those roles is critical for our future. We Conservation for the Service. Dr. Parker and persuasive; never do anything you better understand what it means to said we need to remember that it is know is wrong; maintain your composure; further the mission of the Service through lonely to be a pioneer and, along with and earn credibility. Megan also found our roles on the refuge, in ecological recruitment, we must work on being encouragement in the message that no one services, and supporting science in our welcoming and supportive to all who can be perfect at everything—the key is agency. We are wildlife managers, join. Megan’s mother, a third-generation knowing your weaknesses and enlisting scientists, communicators, recruiters, Japanese-American, was actively colleagues and partners to fill the gaps. lifelong students, mentors, ambassadors discouraged from pursuing wildlife biology and conservationists. It’s a tough job, but by her college professors because of the For another assignment, Dominic and we can do it! lack of jobs. Megan feels we should never Liisa presented ideas to the Council have to turn away anyone interested in on how to recruit and retain a diverse To learn more about The Wildlife Society’s our profession. workforce, including active recruitment by Leadership Institute and how to apply, Service biologists. They put this idea into visit their attempts to get to shore. them to transfer their body heat U S FW pacific Jones was unconscious. Davis while they waited for help. couldn’t speak. Two Idaho Hunters Owe Jones, 42, started to go into Their Lives to Refuge Officer Haskett, the first law enforcement cardiac arrest. He was taken by responder on the scene, weighed Lifeflight to the Portneuf (Idaho) Federal Wildlife Officer Russell the risks of trying to save the men Medical Center, where the emer- Haskett is a hero, but he won’t and stay alive himself. He knew gency room staff had prepared call himself that. He is under- the river in that area was a mix of for his arrival. The helicopter stated when describing how he rock shelves and deep holes, so team was performing CPR as they waded into Idaho’s frigid Snake he inched his way in until he was wheeled him in for treatment. River around noon December 1 up to his neck and close enough and pulled two duck hunters, one to toss a stick with a rope tied to Making a miraculous turnaround, of them nearly dead, to safety. it. When he got the stick hooked Jones reportedly was conscious on Jones’ body, he pulled the men six hours later and asking for ice “It was a calculated risk,” the and the canoe to where he could cream. He was released from officer for the Southeast Idaho reach them. Grabbing a man in the hospital about 10 days later. National Wildlife Refuge Complex each arm, the burly Haskett, Haskett visited him twice in the says of his decision to go in after 45, pulled them to shore, about hospital and even returned to the men. “It was either (go in) or 75 yards away. the rescue site to find Jones’ watch those two guys drown.” eyeglasses. Davis, Jones’ “I’ve pulled people out of the hunting buddy, had been treated The men, Michael Jones and river before,” he says matter-of- and released the day the men Norman Davis, both of Pocatello, factly, noting he as been in other were rescued. Idaho, were clinging to their rescue situations where people capsized canoe in the middle of had hypothermia. Haskett was Dr. DeLaRosa, the cardiac the Snake River near Minidoka a fish and game officer for the surgeon, calls Jones southwest National Wildlife Refuge when Shoshone-Bannock Tribe in “a miracle man” and his survival Haskett heard a sheriff’s radio Idaho for 13 years before joining “the miracle on the Snake.” Friends of Hagerman NWR report of the incident. The Snake the Service in 2004. Receives Southwest Region River is wide in that spot and has Everyone is calling Haskett a Friends Award a current but no rapids. High Three hunting buddies of Jones hero. But the father of three says winds were holding the men and and Davis waited anxiously on he is just thankful that he and the The Friends of Hagerman the canoe in place, despite the shore, and as soon as Haskett hunters are all OK. National Wildlife Refuge, a Texas- current, and they’d been in the brought in the victims, he and the based non-profit organization, freezing water a half-hour despite others put Jones and Davis in dry Joan Jewett, Public Affairs, Pacific received the Service’s Southwest clothes and lay down around Region Region Friends Award. U S FW Federal Wildlife Officer Russell Haskett Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, Regional standing near the Snake River. Director for the Southwest Region, presented the Friends with the award in March to recognize their significant contributions to environmental education and outreach benefiting Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. “At a time when partnerships are paramount, organizations like the Friends of Hagerman NWR are one of the most important allies in the National Wildlife Refuge System’s wildlife conser- vation effort,” Tuggle said. 22 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 around the service Children enjoy a wildlife presentation Celebrating Record High that have helped reduce conflicts at Hagerman NWR. Population Numbers of related to recovering a sustain- Mexican Wolves in the Wild able population of wolves on a working landscape. n Serving more than 1,000 At the end of every calendar year, children and 400 adults who the Service and its state partners Population data were collected participated in Second Saturday, survey the wild population of on the ground by the Mexican Nature‘ology and other environ- Mexican wolves in Arizona and wolf Interagency Field Team mental education programs New Mexico and release this (IFT) from November through hosted on the refuge by the information to the public. From December 2012, as well as an Friends. 2002 to 2011, the numbers aerial survey conducted in bounced between 40 and 60 January 2013. This number is n The purchase and operation of Mexican wolves in the wild. Then, considered a minimum number an electric tram used to conduct in 2012, the Service documented of Mexican wolves known to free weekend tours on the 75 Mexican wolves in the wild, a exist in the Blue Range Wolf refuge’s Wildlife Drive, providing record number! Recovery Area, Other non- the visiting public an excellent collared wolves may be present opportunity to see and enjoy Southwest Regional Director but were not confirmed during wildlife. Dr. Benjamin Tuggle called the the survey period. number “very exciting,” adding n The establishment of the that “our strategy for 2013 will be The aerial survey was conducted Bluestem Chapter of Texas to increase the genetic viability by a fixed-wing aircraft that uses Master Naturalists. of the wild population.” radio telemetry to locate collared wolves, and then call in the n Managing the Nature Nook This minimum number, 75, shows helicopters that fly low to the These are bookstore within the refuge’s visi- the Service’s recovery program is ground to try to get visual » tor center. It is operated entirely on the right track. For the past local folks by the Friends and volunteers two years, the recovery team has A Mexican wolf is brought to the Alpine with 100 percent of the proceeds focused on a number of manage- facility for processing during the 2012 who devote a lot of benefitting the refuge. ment actions—in collaboration population count. with partners and stakeholders— time and effort to n Hosting of a nature photo club, supporting their including two annual refuge photo safaris and a photo contest U S FW national wildlife to foster awareness and respect while photographing natural refuges. resources. —Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, Regional Director for n Creating and sponsoring the Southwest Region BirdFest Texoma, a festival that brought hundreds of birders and nature enthusiasts to the Based near Sherman, Texas, just community in May for field trips north of Dallas, the Friends were and workshops. established to protect, support and enhance the 12,000-acre “These are local folks who refuge that is managed for the devote a lot of time and effort to benefit of wildlife. The all-volun- supporting their national wildlife teer organization was recognized refuges,” said Tuggle. “Their for its many accomplishments hard work and dedication directly this past year, including: benefits wildlife, as well as the visiting public who come out to enjoy refuges.” Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 23 around the service contact and count. Biologists on the ground also use radio midwest telemetry and actual sightings of wolves to help determine the Illinois Refuge Helps Ornate count. The results of the survey Box Turtles confirmed that there are 38 wolves in New Mexico and Like many turtles around the 37 wolves in Arizona, with world, the ornate box turtle (OBT) 13 known packs. faces an extinction threat. But this threat won’t become reality The 2012 minimum population if wildlife biologist Jeramie count includes 20 wild-born pups Strickland, other Service staff at that survived to the end of the Upper Mississippi River National year. This marks the 11th consec- Wildlife and Fish Refuge in utive year in which wild-born northwest Illinois, and numerous wolves have bred and raised conservation partners have pups in the wild, and is again an anything to do about it. increase in the number of pups surviving to the end of the year. The OBT is dependent on native sand prairie habitat, but native prairie habitat in Illinois has been nearly extirpated, with less than 1 percent remaining. And habitat loss is threatening the turtle. Gaining knowledge into the OBT Wildlife biologist Jeramie Strickland talks population helps identify best about ornate box turtle conservation The turtle serves key roles in the practices for managing the turtle. efforts with students from Western essential health of ecosystems For instance, learning hibernation Illinois University in September 2012. such as helping plant diversity patterns helps managers know by spreading seeds through when and where to schedule its droppings and helping to prescribed burns that won’t hurt balance sand prairie food webs. the OBT. To achieve this goal, the refuge The turtle embodies a critical worked with zoos and preserves lesson of ecology and conserva- Through the use of automated to transport OBT eggs and some- tion—everything is connected. telemetry, researchers monitored times turtles themselves (turtles If the turtles become extinct, population traits including nesting found in harm’s way on roads the ecosystem will suffer. and daily activity periods of and in agricultural fields) to 68 turtles with radio transmitters. Lost Mound. Threats such as loss and frag- Management techniques have mentation of the turtles’ sand been adjusted accordingly to It hasn’t been easy. prairie habitat, their collection protect and conserve OBTs. by hobbyists, as well as slow The data will also be used for Coyotes were an early problem, reproduction and predation have a future statewide OBT recovery preying on the turtles and led several states, including program. sometimes chewing off the Illinois, to protect the turtle as a radio transmitters during preda- threatened species. Another goal is to reestablish a tion attempts. But last spring, viable population of OBT at the researchers renovated a Upper Mississippi River National refuge’s Lost Mound Sand Prairie 7-hectare enclosed area at Lost Wildlife and Fish Refuge has been area. A few turtles existed in this Mound with a 5-foot wire fence studying the OBT since 2008 with area, but not enough to consider that has kept predators out, and several goals in mind. In 2012 it a viable population. last July, a hatchling was found, alone, more than 2,500 hours of the first documented successful research was conducted through reproduction within the new numerous partnerships. population. 24 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 around the service In addition to partnering with Institute (ARCI). Under the leader- She adds that their preliminary U S FW conservation organizations, southeast ship of Ken Meyer, technicians findings have been pretty good universities, zoos, developers, from ARCI primarily trap snail news because while feces private land owners, and local, kites at areas believed to be collected at the high-copper sites state and federal agencies, the Is the Everglade Snail Kite’s highly contaminated with copper, showed some elevated copper refuge has made sure to empha- Primary Food Source Being as well as areas believed to be levels, blood levels and feather size education and outreach. Contaminated by Copper? minimally contaminated. Once the levels were fairly consistent with birds are captured, the team what was found in samples taken This outreach has provided public Emily Bauer enjoys slogging takes samples and analyzes them at the sites with far less, if any, awareness on the plight of this around in the bogs of south for copper content. copper contamination. imperiled species. And it has Florida looking for apple snails. driven several students into She’s determined to find out if Bauer and her cohorts from “This tells us that even if the birds advanced conservation studies. levels of copper in apple snails the Contaminants Section, are ingesting snails with lots of are potentially harmful to the Supervisory Ecologist Bob Frakes copper in them, the contamina- Strickland got this note from a endangered Everglade snail kite and Toxicologist Anthony Sowers, tion appears to be passing young person: “Jeramie, I saw that eats them. generally go out to the sites through their bodies,” she says. your published Ornate Box collecting snails, as well as Turtle article in the Outdoor Apple snails are snail kites’ sediment and water samples. “However, we need to keep in Illinois magazine, and it was primary food source. Concerns mind that these birds can move actually what pushed me to apply arose about possible high levels “Once all of the data are gath- around quite a bit and there’s to graduate school …” of copper found in these snails ered and analyzed, we look to no guarantee what we are calling living around old agricultural see what type of correlation there exposed birds are truly exposed. This year, the study and reestab- areas. is between levels we’re seeing Bauer says. » lishment effort will continue, in the birds versus levels we’re using surveys and radio teleme- Too much copper can lead to seeing in their environment,” try. Several graduate students reduced weight and other health Bauer says. will also be working on OBT related problems in chicks. In research. And the refuge will addition, high levels of copper Anthony Sowers (left) and Bob Frakes examine empty apple snail shells near an continue outreach, emphasizing can affect a bird’s ability to Everglade snail kite perch along a drainage canal near Marshall Loxahatchee NWR. private landowners. The majority reproduce through reduced of land in northwest Illinois is egg production. privately owned, so public aware- ness and education are critical Bauer is an ecologist working in for the future protection of the South Florida Ecological isolated OBT populations that Services Office Contaminants occur on private lands. Section. Her section represents the Service on the interagency Copper Working Group, which was formed because of all the issues associated with potential copper contamination in and around Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) sites. “Many of CERP sites are on old agricultural lands—especially citrus, where copper was used as a fungicide,” Bauer says. For the apple snail study, the Service entered into a coopera- tive agreement with the Avian Research and Conservation Emily Bauer/FWS Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 25 around the service Tensas River National to public hunting, and more Sportsmen program, which Wildlife Refuge Hosts importantly provide opportunities administers several of these Successful Hunts to get kids excited about hunting, hunts throughout Louisiana conservation and national during deer season. Tensas River is a major public wildlife refuges. land deer hunting destination for Fifteen participants are randomly people from all over Louisiana. This year, the hunts were on drawn from a larger pool of appli- In addition to public deer hunting December 27 and January 3, cants. These hunters and their throughout most of its 80,000 and kids, parents, staff and helpers use box blinds set up acres, the refuge also hosts volunteers all had a wonderful throughout the closed area. three hunts in the Greenlea time. Although some of these Volunteers cook breakfast and Bend area. This area is usually children had prior experience lunch for the hunters and other closed to public hunting because deer hunting, others harvested participants, shuttle hunters to the wildlife drive is there. their first deer. For some of these their blinds, help them get situ- ace/ u sFW S However, two youths hunts and children, the Tensas youth hunt ated and unloaded, and even help B ob P a hunt by wheelchair users, is their first time in a deer stand. process the deer that have been Emily Bauer displays a couple of apple are highly anticipated by refuge These hunts are also great fun harvested. This year, five deer snails. staff members and the lucky for the guides and refuge staff were harvested. participants. members who volunteer to sit with the youths. Dillon Cotton harvested his first In a related study, Sowers put On the third Saturday in deer ever, a two-and-a-half-year some of the highly contaminated September, Tensas River holds The young people harvested old, 8-point buck. Excited does soil into containers and then put the annual Hunting and Fishing 31 deer during the two hunts. not even begin to describe how some apple snails into it. Not Day event, which ends with a Many of these young people will Dillon was feeling! He even surprisingly, these snails devel- drawing for coveted spots for be at Hunting and Fishing Day in wanted his father to strap his oped high concentrations of young people 8 –15 on guided September 2013, ready to enter wheelchair onto the trailer pulled copper in them. Eventually, he’ll deer hunts. The refuge holds two the drawing again! behind their truck so that he put those snails into a simulated of these hunts each season, with could ride with his deer. Although snail kite digestive system to refuge staff and knowledgeable The refuge also hosts a hunt by he obviously didn’t get his wish see how much of the copper is volunteers serving as guides. wheelchair users. This hunt is for the ride home, the smile on his actually expelled. “Emily and I The purpose of these hunts is held in partnership with National face certainly made the entire will compare notes. Hopefully, twofold. They help manage deer Wild Turkey Federation’s Wheelin’ day worthwhile for everyone our studies won’t contradict each populations within an area closed involved. other and will instead point to the Hunters, guides, family and volunteers. same types of findings,” he says. Bauer says the Copper Working Group will incorporate data from the studies into a risk assessment and set acceptable levels of copper in these birds. They hope to have a final report this spring. KEN WARREN, South Florida Ecological Services Field Office, Southeast Region 26 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 around the service northeast mountain- Ph illip B o nn prairie MARSH! Now Four Years Strong at Montezuma Wetlands Complex Sand and Gravel Mining Companies in Nebraska Help From tree planting to frogbit and Pave the Road to Recovery water chestnut removal, for Terns and Plovers Montezuma Alliance for the Restoration of Species and Since 1985, the Service and the Habitats! (MARSH!) participants Nebraska Game and Parks have enjoyed restoring and Commission have worked to exploring the Montezuma restore the endangered interior Wetlands Complex in New York least tern and threatened piping for the past four years. plover to Nebraska’s landscape. The Tern and Plover Conservation The MARSH! program is part Partnership joined the effort in of a larger effort to restore, 1999. In addition, since the recov- protect and enhance wildlife MARSH! participants use canoes to remove frogbit. ery’s inception, sand and gravel habitat on nearly 50,000 acres mining companies in Nebraska in the complex, which includes have teamed up with these Montezuma National Wildlife I...feel privileged to be able to organizations and have enthusi- Refuge. MARSH! was formed astically taken an integral role as to support the habitat restoration work and learn with skilled wildlife tern and plover conservationists. efforts of the Service, New York State Department of biologists to enhance and preserve the Both the interior least tern and Environmental Conservation, piping plover travel thousands New York Audubon and other ecosystem for generations to come. of miles each year, from their partners within the MWC. —David Marsh, volunteer wintering grounds along the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Throughout the year, more than Sea to their breeding grounds in 120 volunteers, ranging in age A project introduced in 2012 “I am always in awe of the lush Nebraska and other Midwestern from 5 to 85, contributed more allowed volunteers to “enjoy” beauty of the Greater Montezuma states. From late April until mid- than 1,400 hours of service to paddling through emergent cattail Wetlands, its abundant wildlife, August, Nebraska hosts these ensure healthy habitats persist marshes. The task was simple, the songs of its inhabitants, and birds as they return to the same throughout the complex. Various to collect as many water depth feel privileged to be able to work nesting areas year after year. work days emphasized invasive readings as possible. The result and learn with skilled wildlife Kelly Pu r k ey/ u s fw Kelly plant removal or native plant and was accurate depictions of the biologists to enhance and Upon arrival in spring, both habitat restoration. Tons of bottom elevation of more than preserve the ecosystem for species seek out sparsely vege- invasive plants including frogbit, 3,350 acres of Montezuma generations to come,” says tated, sandy shorelines and water chestnut, garlic mustard wetlands. The maps will be David Marsh, who attended more mid-river sandbars, where they and Japanese stiltgrass were used for better management of than 20 MARSH! events in 2012. establish territories, build nests, removed; more than 400 native wetland impoundments. and feed and care for their trees and shrubs planted; and The MARSH! season ended young. In Nebraska, some of the more than 150 pounds of wetland MARSH! 2012 was a success not with staff and volunteers joining appealing and most reliable habi- seed harvested and sown by only based on the amount of work together for treats and to discuss tat of this sort is found along the hand into newly restored accomplished, but also because how to strengthen the program beaches of sand and gravel pits. marshes. MARSH! participants got much and reach out to others who may more out of the program than the enjoy working with MARSH! in For decades, sand and gravel satisfaction of volunteering and 2013 and years to come. mining companies have mined restoring habitat — they gained a large quantities of high quality backstage pass to some of the aggregates at sites along most diverse areas of the refuge. Nebraska’s rivers. This industry » Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 27 around the service of the 55th anniversary of Beaver alaska Round-Up. The logo featured a ‘60s era Rock ‘n’ Roll/Elvis theme, and many of the parade floats Calling Elvis? Check Togiak reflected this. NWR The Togiak Refuge float featured It’s not Graceland…it’s a whole staff member Jon Dyasuk chan- lot prettier! neling his inner Elvis — if Elvis had been a sport fisherman on Dillingham, Alaska, in early spring the refuge. Parade-goers seemed U S FW held its annual community cele- to enjoy Dyasuk’s portrayal of the is important to the state’s Plover chicks use coloration to blend into bration, called Beaver Round-Up, King, and judges named Togiak’s economy, generating millions of their pebble-lined nest. a nod to when the fur trade was a entry as the first-place float. dollars in revenue every year and big part of the town’s make-up. providing useful products and The event kicks off with a parade, The Beaver Round-Up parade materials for road building, home and due to their constant training and Dillingham resident Togiak is always a fun event, and it construction, concrete produc- and involvement, Western Sand’s National Wildlife Refuge always provides the refuge with a tion, landscaping and glass feelings toward the plovers and takes part, normally to enthusias- nice annual opportunity to manufacturing. terns have changed over the tic fanfare on the part of parade connect with the community. years from being a ‘nuisance’ on-lookers. This year was no With steady laughter in its Some of the best aggregate to ‘amazing creatures of different. wake, this year’s float certainly sources in Nebraska are found nature,’” says Dave Brakenhoff accomplished that. along the Platte, Elkhorn and of the Western Sand and Gravel This year’s Round-Up theme was Loup rivers. Mining activity Company. “Rockin’ 55 Years” in recognition creates expanses of barren sand, which are extremely attractive In 2012, approximately 310 to interior least terns and piping least terns and 66 piping plovers plovers. Unfortunately, active occupied cooperating mines in sand and gravel mines are busy Nebraska. To ensure the safety places. Nests can be accidentally of these birds, the partners run over by equipment, loud improve nesting habitat, noises can cause birds to aban- implement on-the-ground don nests, and windblown sand management, routinely monitor can bury nests. As a result sand bird populations, and practice and gravel companies have made cooperation, open communica- it their corporate goal to minimize tion and coordination of efforts. the likelihood that birds encoun- ter these man-made hazards. “Being responsible stewards of the land and the wildlife that In 2012, representatives from inhabit it is an important corpo- several leading sand and gravel rate priority,” says Carol White companies in Nebraska, the of the Lyman-Richey Corp. Service and NGPC prepared a “Our involvement with the Memorandum of Understanding Tern and Plover Conservation U S FW establishing themselves as part- Partnership is the latest step Jon Dyasuk looks like he’s got a Vegas ners in the effort to protect and for us to ensure habitat for the career pegged, if he ever decides to recover interior least tern and least tern and piping plovers is hang up his Service shoes. piping plover populations. preserved and enhanced for future generations.” “The Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership has Angelina Wright, Ecological been outstanding to work with, Services, Mountain-Prairie Region 28 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 around the service Research Reveals Long-Term Cycles in Salmon Abundance Three national wildlife refuges in Alaska collaborated with the University of Washington and seven other academic or govern- ment research institutions on a study that sheds light on cyclical changes in sockeye salmon runs over the past 500 years. The study’s results were reported in the January 2013 Proceedings of the National Academy of U S FW Sciences: a Win-Win Deal and Myron Naneng, the president of C ar o line Ch e u n g /U S FW Sea Lion Corp., shake on the deal. In Salmon managers have long Sockeye salmon swim upstream in a A recent land exchange between the background is Ted Murphy, BLM understood that run size is highly tributary of Karluk Lake, Kodiak NWR. the Service and an Alaska Native Associate State Director. BLM helped variable, changing from year to Village corporation will remove the Service by making sure that land year and often showing cyclic barriers to the corporation’s abil- status/ownership was correct and by change that persists for decades. ity to manage for the future and issuing the patent that deeds the But the study reveals cycles in The study took place on 25 lakes add to the habitat and wildlife federal land to Sea Lion. salmon abundance on a scale not throughout southwestern Alaska, diversity of Yukon Delta National previously imagined, some lasting 14 of which collectively are on Wildlife Refuge. up to 200 years. Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Peninsula/Becharof The lands included in the lands, resulting in consolidated The study also shows big differ- National Wildlife Refuge and exchange are near Hooper Bay, land ownerships that will make ences in salmon runs by river Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. 500 miles west of Anchorage, and for more efficient refuge and system. While abundance in are within the boundaries of the corporation management and some river systems increased, More than 4 million sockeye Yukon Delta National Wildlife reduce habitat fragmentation. it decreased in other systems. salmon annually return to their Refuge. The Sea Lion Corp., This is consistent with other natal waters in lakes and streams which entered into the exchange In exchange, the Refuge System recent research on modern-day on these refuges. But more than with the Service, is an Alaska acquired more than 5,150 acres salmon systems that indicates 10 million salmon destined for Native Village corporation that of upland habitat on the western overall stability when the these spawning areas annually received title to lands through the flank of Kusilvak Mountain systems are intact, even though are intercepted by the commer- Alaska Native Claims Settlement bordering Nunavakanak Lake. the individual elements show cial fishery. The single most Act of 1971. This mountainous terrain is extreme variability. significant conservation concern uncommon in the Yukon Delta and for these three refuges is whether The Service conveyed more than is essentially an island habitat This high variation in abundance this level of exploitation is 13,200 acres of its owned subsur- within the vast low-lying delta. and cycles of short to extremely sustainable. To this end, the face estate beneath Village The Service believes this acquisi- long duration mean that salmon refuges have hosted or supported Corporation-owned surface, with tion will enhance the protection harvest regimes must have the collaborative investigations for the aim of avoiding potential for of outstanding natural values of flexibility to scale up or down more than 30 years. contamination and conflicts that the area and will further the appropriately. Given that the might result from the relocation of purposes for which the refuge global salmon industry is valued For more information, contact: the city’s landfill. In addition, the was established. at more than $3 billion annually, Patrick Walsh agency turned over about 2,500 and given the ecological and such as clerestory windows open pacific during the cooler nighttime hours to vent hot air built up inside southwest during the day. This creates airflow that works together with the building’s cooling and San Luis’ HQ/Visitor Center ventilation systems to cycle Is Service’s First to Earn air throughout the building. Highest ‘Green’ Ranking Wooden arbor structures over the front entrance and over the Energy-efficient work at San wildlife viewing windows shade Luis National Wildlife Refuge the lobby from direct morning Complex has paid off as the and afternoon sunlight. Those U.S. Green Building Council in elements, along with shades on February certified the refuge’s all the building’s windows, help visitor center/headquarters keep the interior cool during the facility as a LEED Platinum Central Valley’s long hot facility, the highest mark in The San Luis NWR Visitor Center summers. this “green” rating system. It’s exhibit hall has more than 20 displays the first LEED Platinum facility focusing on the unique wildlife and Low-flow fixtures and automatic in the Service. habitats protected by refuge lands. faucets in the restrooms, as well as native-plant landscaping The Service opened its headquar- I -Tin g Ch ian requiring little to no additional ters and visitor center on the water once plants are estab- San Luis NWR near Los Banos, The Service is embracing LEED- lished, mean the facility uses California, in 2011. The 16,500 less than half the water of a stan- square-foot facility (funded identified principles of sustainable design dard building of comparable size. through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) provides in its new and renovated facilities as it Recycled or low-VOC (volatile offices and work space for the works to become carbon neutral by 2020. organic compounds) materials entire staff of the San Luis NWR are used throughout the facility. Complex, which is composed of three refuges and a wildlife able, the facility serves as an cient, ultra-efficient LED and The Service is embracing management area. The visitor example in the region to builders florescent fixtures, designed to LEED-identified principles of center includes a 1,500 square- and homeowners wishing to turn off automatically when no sustainable design in its new and foot interactive exhibit hall with construct more environmentally one is in the room, are installed renovated facilities as it works to more than 20 displays focusing on friendly homes, neighborhoods throughout the facility. become carbon neutral by 2020. the unique wildlife and habitats and communities. Some of those protected by refuge lands, as well elements are: The building benefits from natural Madeline Yancey, San Luis NWR as a 1,000-square-foot classroom heating and cooling features, Complex, Pacific Southwest Region. with audio-visual capability. Two arrays of photovoltaic solar panels provide the majority of the LEED stands for Leadership in building’s electrical needs. Energy and Environmental Design and provides architects, builders, Tall north-facing windows in owners and operators with a office spaces and let in light framework to identify and imple- while avoiding direct sunlight ment practical, measureable and from the south that would heat sustainable solutions to building the building’s interior. Natural design, construction, operations ambient light is also enhanced and maintenance. with specially equipped skylights that magnify incoming light and Because the green building by light-colored ceilings that t ive c o mm ns/ j ac.6 f lic k r elements incorporated into the reflect natural light into rooms. visitor center are widely avail- When ambient light is not suffi- f lic k r/crea 30 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 around the service Fisherman and Service employee Bob under the Endangered Species Clarke holds a Lahontan cutthroat trout Act—known as a 4(d) rule – caught at Pyramid Lake. allows the public to fish for these threatened trout. A 4(d) rule allows the Service to tailor the the Lahontan National Fish ESA’s protections to meet Hatchery work with the Pyramid conservation needs of threatened Lake Paiute Tribe’s fisheries species (which may be more or program to stock and gather less restrictive). information about the Lahontan cutthroat trout. With size limits in place, contin- ued monitoring and protection Size limits and other special fish- by the Service and the Pyramid ing restrictions help protect the Lake Paiute Tribe, the Lahontan integrity of fishable populations, cutthroat trout’s recovery will but the extra restrictions have not continue, balancing sport and stopped the trout from becoming conservation. an important fish among anglers. Cindy Sandoval, External Affairs, Along with the help from the Pacific Southwest Region Paiute Tribe, a special exception B ob C lar k e/U S FW Sleeping One Off Anglers Include Lahontan Some anglers have tried to E ric Co le / U S FW Cutthroat Trout in the Sierra change the name of the slam Grand Slam to reflect the importance of landing a Lahontan cutthroat The Lahontan cutthroat trout, and names like Super Grand listed as endangered in 1970 Slam and Perfect Slam have been and reclassified as threatened proposed. One angler using in 1975, was reintroduced to the screen name Sierra_Smitty Nevada’s Pyramid Lake in 2006. writes on a popular fishing Now fish weighing nearly blog, “I’m not sure what you’d 20 pounds are being caught call it if you caught a cutt and the trout is emerging as an [Lahontan cutthroat] too, but it important member of the Sierra would be pretty dang impres- Grand Slam. sive...all I know is that there are only a handful of places you A Grand Slam in fishing is when could do it.” an angler catches four species in a single day — the four species One such place is Pyramid Lake, vary by region. For instance, the an area described by one Tackle In February, National Elk Refuge staff collared four wolves from Great Lakes Grand Slam consists Tour writer as “a jewel in the the Pinnacle Peak pack, a group that has resided on the refuge for of walleye, northern pike, lake Nevada high desert, and the several years. From the data generated by the collars, biologists trout and steelhead. For years a treasure here comes in the form will monitor the size of the pack, document its distribution, record Sierra Grand Slam on the West of big trout quite unlike those mortalities, measure the pack’s reproductive success, note Coast was brown trout, rainbow found anywhere else.” The fish- breeding pair status, and generate other documentation. This wolf trout, brook trout and golden ing opportunities at Pyramid was the last to recover from the effects of the drug used to sedate trout, but with the Lahontan Lake would not be possible him. Two biologists remained on site to ensure he got safely back cutthroat on the road to recovery, without the Service’s close part- up on his feet. a growing number of anglers are nership with the Pyramid Lake including it as a member of their Paiute Tribe. The lake is on the slam, replacing the golden trout. tribe’s reservation, and staff at Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 31 our people Of particular note, during the Jaime came to the Northeast Mountain-Prairie Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Beth Region as Assistant Regional transitions worked with Interior officials to Director for Fisheries and obtain a waiver for the Service Federal Aid in 1993. He oversaw Will Meeks Headquarters to begin using social media tools. 27 fisheries offices, including has been She also was a driving force national fish hatcheries, named After more than six years as behind the Wildlife and Hunting fisheries management offices, Assistant Assistant Director for External Heritage Conservation Council and a fishery center focusing on Regional Affairs, Elizabeth H. Stevens has and stronger relationships fish health and technology. Director for accepted a senior leadership with both the Sportfishing and Refuges in the position in the Service’s Alaska Boating Partnership Council and On reflecting on his career, Service’s Regional Office. the Recreational Boating and Jaime said, “I feel fortunate to Mountain-Prairie Region. He has Fishing Foundation. In addition, have worked for supervisors more than 18 years of experience Beth began her tenure with she assumed a major leadership who have recognized the needs working for the Service. He the Service in 1987 and has role on tribal issues within the of their employees.” He credits currently serves at the project served in a wide variety of agency. them for giving him training leader of the Habitat and senior leadership positions opportunities in science, Population Evaluation Team since. She first served as a She was born and raised in management and especially, (HAPET) in Bismarck, North Special Assistant to the Director Alaska and is a graduate of Ohio leadership. In turn, he has Dakota, where he has on Alaska issues and later Wesleyan University. encouraged his employees distinguished himself as the as Special Assistant to the to take leadership training. leader of a science-support Assistant Director for Fish and “Leadership training helped organization. Wildlife Enhancement. Northeast me learn about myself and how to help others be their best. Before HAPET, Will worked In 1992, she became Associate James “Jaime” Geiger, Assistant Leadership training is investing in Headquarters as both the Regional Director in the Regional Director of Fisheries for the long term.” deputy division chief for Natural Service’s Mountain-Prairie for the Northeast Region, retired Resources and Conservation Region, and, in 1998, was on April 1 after 35 years in the Jaime earned a bachelor’s Planning, and as branch chief named Deputy Manager for the Service. degree in biology from Tulane for the Branch of Wildlife newly established California/ University, a master’s degree Resources. He also directed Nevada Operations Office He began his career with the specializing in insect physiology/ the Planning Branch of the in Sacramento, California. Service in 1978 as a fisheries biochemistry from Virginia Refuge System, which included In 2001, she returned to the research biologist at the Commonwealth University, and Comprehensive Conservation Service’s Headquarters as the Southeastern Fish Cultural a doctorate in zoology from Plan development as well as Deputy Assistant Director for Laboratory in Marion, Alabama. Virginia Tech. land acquisition planning efforts Endangered Species. In 2006, He then worked for Texas Parks in support of America’s Great Beth was named Assistant and Wildlife Department as In retirement, Jaime hopes Outdoors initiative. Will has Director for External Affairs. assistant chief of hatcheries to reconnect with family and also served as deputy refuge on an intergovernmental friends, scuba dive, resume manager at Alaska Maritime In an email to the Directorate, assignment. He went on to serve playing the five-string banjo National Wildlife Refuge in Service Director Dan Ashe as scientific director of the and embrace his inner Zorba the Alaska and refuge manager called Beth “the right choice Service’s Fish Culture Research Greek. He plans to laugh more, at Lostwood National Wildlife for External Affairs during Laboratory in West Virginia beginning with his retirement on Refuge in North Dakota. what turned out to be a period and then moved to Washington, April Fools’ Day. of unprecedented upheaval in DC, as division chief for Fish communications,” adding that and Wildlife Management “Her leadership, integrity and Assistance. tenacity have been just what our agency has needed to build and sustain a strong communications function for the Service in this time of dynamic change. ” 32 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 our people The Service Alaska refuge managers, in addition to refuge staff, now snowmobiles has selected individuals in upper management are often the vehicles of choice, Clint Riley as positions in other programs. and commercial flights serve the Assistant Retirement “Wave” no Setback locations that were once only Regional for Service Conservation in Some of these employees accessible by bush planes. Director for Alaska started their careers before Digital cameras, thermo-imaging Migratory passage of the Alaska National and even satellites have all Birds and The Service’s Alaska Region Interest Lands Conservation found uses in conservation in State Programs for the experienced an unprecedented Act of 1980, which doubled the Alaska in recent years. Mountain-Prairie Region. slew of retirements on number of wildlife refuges in December 31, 2012. The Alaska and increased their total Given all that, it would be easy to Clint previously led the mass exodus was driven by acreage to the point that the 16 assume that December 31 was Pennsylvania Ecological changes in federal retirement refuges in the Alaska Region a disaster for conservation in Services Field Office of the and locality pay policies. As a account for approximately 80 Alaska, but a conversation with Service’s Northeast Region. In result, the Alaska Region lost a percent of the land in the entire some of the recent retirees laid that position, he was responsible total of 54 employees in 2012, National Wildlife Refuge System. those fears to rest. Institutional for projects ranging from approximately 10 percent of its These men and women have knowledge isn’t the property endangered species protections total workforce, and the benefit witnessed the revolutionary of individuals, they said, but is, to private lands conservation of a combined total of more introduction of electronic because conservation is a team through Partners for Fish and than 1,000 years of institutional tracking for wildlife survey work, effort (especially in Alaska), Wildlife projects. Before that, conservation experience! and watched the evolution of “marbled” through the region, he served at Headquarters in these devices from great bulky with components of it shared by several positions. Before joining The retirements were collars to technological marvels every younger employee who’s the Service in 2002, Clint worked disproportionally skewed toward so small they can be carried by had the benefit of working with six years as an attorney for the those in leadership positions birds on migrations covering those who recently walked out Kansas Department of Wildlife, (not surprising, since those with thousands of miles, or actually the door. Parks and Tourism. long federal careers had steadily inserted into the bodies of fish. advanced through their years of Where dogsleds were once Then again, as noted above, the His childhood was split between Service). For example, Alaska commonly used tools for remote technology of conservation is the mountains of Colorado said farewell to a third of its and the prairies of Kansas. He studied chemical science and philosophy at Kansas State University. After graduation in 1991, he studied environmental philosophy in Costa Rica and earned a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1996. U S FW Regional Director Geoff Haskett (third from left) and Deputy Regional Director LaVerne Smith (second from left) join friends and family to congratulate Doug Alcorn and Russ Oates (holding awards, left to right) on their retirement. Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 33 our people rapidly changing, and the new has helped build partnerships in public use and wilderness Alaska Region retirees in 2012 employees who step up will have among the villages in and around management. He was to arrive Pamela Ables grown up with the innovations the refuge by developing and in Alaska in late April. His family Douglas Alcorn that are now shaping and will presenting clinics to get young will join him later in June Brian Anderson continue to shape our efforts in people (and adults) outside after his children finish up the Ignatius Andrew the future. For example, while and engaged in some of the school year. Michael Boylan Service pilots in Alaska have traditional activities that have Alan Brackney long been recognized to be seen a decline in recent years. New to Alaska will be Susanna Wennona Brown among the most skilled in the Bo and wife Holly were to move Henry, selected to serve as Claire Caldes nation, tested and proved by to Kodiak in mid-May. manager for Togiak Refuge. Jeff Carter our mountains and wide open Susanna is currently the refuge Helen Clough spaces and often brutal weather, Susan Alexander has been manager for Kofa Refuge near A. Dawn Comish the time will likely come soon selected as manager for Alaska Yuma, Arizona. Managing William Crabtree when much of the work now Peninsula/Becharof Refuge. large landscapes (by lower 48 David Daum done by aircraft will be handled For the last several years Susan standards at least!) is nothing Lynn Denlinger by unmanned drones, controlled served as the deputy project new to Susanna, as Kofa Richard Ernst by computer jockeys rather leader for the South Arkansas contains one of the largest Peter Finley than pilots. Refuge Complex. But before chunks of congressionally Suzanne Gautney that she was the Alaska designated Wilderness outside Sandra Groth Alaska Regional Director Geoff Refuge System’s budget of Alaska. Before joining the Stephen Hanson Haskett summed it up nicely. chief. Susan brings with her Service, Susanna was a wildlife Janet Hohn “There’s no doubt that the recent 25 years of Alaska experience biologist with the BLM, also in Judy Jacobs wave of retirements will be felt in refuge management, budget, Arizona. Susanna was to arrive Danielle Jerry by Region 7, and that there will and realty; as well as insight in late May after her daughters’ Walter Johnson be sometimes painful tradeoffs into the world of non- graduations. Her husband will Richard Johnston between what we’ve lost governmental conservation join her later this summer after William (Bill) Larned and what we’ll gain,” he said. organizations, having worked his retirement. Robin Leatherman “However, conservation has for The Nature Conservancy Janet Lehrman a relatively short but eventful and the Alaska Center for Holly Gaboriault is also a Paul Liedberg history in the Great Land, and the Environment. Susan and newcomer to Alaska, named Kevin McClure you can be sure the Service is husband Karl were to arrive back refuge supervisor to oversee Claudette McDonald using the knowledge gained in Alaska in early May. Arctic, Alaska Maritime, Rosa Meehan through those experiences to Izembek, Kanuti, Tetlin, Yukon Richard Morris prepare for an equally eventful, Brian Glaspell will also be Delta and Yukon Flats Refuges. Marilyn Myers and equally successful, future.” returning to Alaska, having been Holly started her Service career James Neely selected as the manager for at Chincoteague Refuge as Mary Nelson Among those taking on new jobs Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. a biological science student Russell Oates in the wake of the retirements Before leaving Alaska almost trainee, moving up into refuge Douglas Palmer are people both familiar and new three years ago, Brian was the management in less than three Vivian Powell to the region. visitor services manager at years. After Chincoteague, Holly Ann Rappoport Kodiak Refuge and worked in the spent time working at Stewart B. Nancy Reagan Bo Sloan, the new manager of regional office. He is currently McKinney Refuge and Silvio O. Patricia Reynolds Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, the recreation/wilderness/ Conte Refuge in wildlife biology Mark Russell moved to Alaska just over three volunteers and partners program and in refuge management, Bill Schaff years ago from Mississippi to manager for the Medicine before moving into her current Mary Scherer serve as manager for Innoko Bow-Routt National Forests. position as the deputy refuge Ben Sherburne Refuge. Trading the hot and Brian brings with him a wealth supervisor for Area II in the Rodney Simmons humid Mississippi Delta climate of knowledge and leadership Southeast Region. James Spiry for the cold and dry of the Henry Timm Alaska Interior, Bo fit right in and Bruce Woods, Media Relations, Hedy Towne Alaska Region John Trent Richard Voss Mark Wegner Gary Wheeler Charles Young 34 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 our people Southeast Mike got his start in natural “Working for the Fish and James’ background equipped resource management and Wildlife Service is an exciting him well for being a biologist. policy development as a Knauss opportunity for me,” Amy said. His previous position was with Mike Oetker, Sea Grant Fellow, working “I am especially looking forward the USDA Natural Resources a fisheries for the Committee on Natural to aiding MDOT in protecting Conservation Service. As a biologist with Resources in the U.S. House of federally threatened and district conservationist for extensive Representatives. While there, he endangered species.” a five-county area along the experience in worked on the reauthorization Georgia coast, James worked to Kim Je w interstate of the Sport Fish Restoration Amy earned both a master and enhance wildlife habitat through water issues, Program championing an effort a bachelor of science in biology the Farm Bill and programs like is the new to restore more than $135 million from Missouri State University the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Deputy Regional Director for the to state agencies. in Springfield, Missouri. Amy Program and the Wetland Service’s Southeast Regional did her thesis research on the Reserve Program. He also did a Office in Atlanta. “I enjoy working in areas behavioral ecology of darters in lot of partners work with state where unique ecosystems the genus Etheostoma. and federal agencies and non- Mike is a 13-year Service and species are faced with governmental organizations. veteran and has been the competing demands on those A native of Missouri, Amy grew Assistant Regional Director for resources,” Mike said. “I also am up in the St. Louis area. She has James also worked as a regional the Fisheries Program in the a longtime hunter and angler and always been interested in nature wildlife biologist for the National Southwest Region since 2008. know I will feel at home in the and the outdoors and became Wild Turkey Federation and was Southeast where these values motivated to study biology after stationed in Georgia. His job was “Mike has a track record of are strong.” she learned to scuba dive as a a partnership position with the cultivating strong, effective teenager while visiting her sister NWTF, NRCS and the Georgia partnerships, particularly in The beginning of 2013 brought in the Caribbean. Forestry Commission, and one of the controversial and complex two new members to the his main focuses was again on Colorado River Basin,” Mississippi Ecological Services Amy and husband Sanford, a wildlife habitat restoration. Southeast Regional Director Field Office team—Amy support services specialist for Cindy Dohner said. “I’m excited Carson and James Austin. Both the USDA Forest Service, have James began his career in to bring his leadership, expertise biologists joined the staff on two daughters, Chloe, 4 years Mississippi – first as a district and partner experience to January 14. old, and Molly, 2 years old. biologist, then the turkey the Southeast. He will fit in program coordinator for the wonderfully, helping us continue Amy Carson, James Mississippi Department of a proud tradition of building hired as a fish Austin is also Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks in rock-solid relationships and and wildlife new to the the Jackson area. producing conservation results biologist, is Service. He is with our state and federal the office’s a biologist James earned a master’s and partners, as well as tribes, non- liaison to the responsible a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife governmental organizations and Mississippi for and Fisheries Science from private landowners.” Department of implementing Mississippi State University. He Transportation. She came to the private lands projects through did his thesis work on raccoon In the Southwest Region, Fish and Wildlife Service from the Mississippi Partners for Fish ecology in the eastern part of the headquartered in Albuquerque, the USDA Forest Service where and Wildlife and the Partners for state. New Mexico, Mike developed she was a biological science Fish and Wildlife programs. collaborative approaches to technician for the aquatic fauna Originally from Louisiana, James manage shared resources. team at the Southern Research “I am excited to be working grew up hunting and fishing with He was heavily involved in Station’s Forest Hydrology Lab for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife his dad. James and wife Emily negotiations with numerous in Oxford, Mississippi. At the Service,” James said. “I am have a 7-year-old son, Andrew. agencies over water lab, Amy studied the ecology looking forward to working The family enjoys hiking and management, recovery of of freshwater mussels, fish with Mississippi landowners to camping together and going federally listed species, water and crayfish. improve wildlife habitat on their squirrel hunting with Rocky, their transfers and movement of properties.” pet hunting dog. injurious species. Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 35 our people adequately addressed by senior Coast Guard officials, who honors were balancing a wide range of actions. Hebert also played a key Charlie Herbert Earns DOI role in advocating for wildlife Meritorious Service Award after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Service He has been instrumental in biologist coordinating spill and natural Charles resource damage assessment “Charlie” with the Pacific states and Herbert was the oil industry through the awarded the first Joint Assessment Team Department of established in the United States. the Interior’s In recognition of his expertise in Meritorious Service Award early contaminant-related issues, the this year, just before announcing Canadian government asked for his retirement from 33 years of Hebert to assist with large-scale federal service. disaster response efforts. L amar G o re/U S FW At the CDIP orientation, interns learn Meant to recognize Service Hebert’s career began as Wildlife Society Recognizes about turtle trapping. employees who support the a National Wildlife Refuge Service’s Career Discovery agency’s mission through their biologist in Baton Rouge, Internship Program for exceptional contributions, the Louisiana, in 1978. Throughout Outstanding Diversity Meritorious Service Award is the his career with the Service, Programming culturally and ethnically diverse second highest honor a Service he served as a National freshmen and sophomore employee can receive. Wildlife Refuge manager and The Wildlife Society recognized college students, who would contaminant specialist. He the Service’s Career Discovery not otherwise participate in a “Charlie is a dedicated gained an outstanding reputation Internship Program (CDIP) with conservation-based job. SCA professional who has made as one of the Service’s premier its 2012 Diversity Award, which conducts student recruitment for outstanding contributions to the oil and hazardous substance recognizes outstanding efforts the program and works closely Fish and Wildlife Service and the spill responders. Employed at in promoting ethnic and gender with the Service to plan and Department of the Interior,” said refuges in Louisiana, North diversity in the natural resource- coordinate the CDIP orientation. Robyn Thorson, Director of the Carolina and Rhode Island, related professions, especially Service’s Pacific Region. “His Charlie was actively involved wildlife conservation and Through the program, students accomplishments truly embody in biological, law enforcement, education. gain hands-on conservation what it means to be a public and management issues, and skills, bond with fellow program servant.” coordinated closely with the “My summer at Parker River participants and mentors, and public, other agencies and local National Wildlife Refuge was one achieve personal, intellectual Hebert was one of the Service’s congressional offices. of great adventure. Throughout and physical goals. CDIP also key leaders of the agency’s this experience, I have become provides staff the opportunity on-the-ground response Charlie led the Service’s pre- more aware of how pertinent it to work with culturally and following the 2010 Deepwater spill readiness and response is for humans to lend a helping ethnically diverse youth at Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of efforts. He played a pivotal hand in conservation and Service field stations. Mexico. He was deployed for role in preparing the agency sustainability….” six months to Houma and New for and responding to major —Claire Revekant, CDIP Intern Ultimately, some of the Orleans, Louisiana, where he oil spills in coordination with participants advance to full-time was instrumental in coordinating field offices, the Coast Guard, CDIP is a youth immersion jobs with the Service. Over the and advocating for fish and the Environmental Protection program, which began in the past five years the program has wildlife response actions. His Agency and non-governmental Northeast Region in 2008. grown to involve the Service’s negotiation skills ensured that organizations. The Service partners with Southeast, Midwest and Alaska fish and wildlife needs were the Student Conservation regions. More than 193 students Association to provide have participated at more than conservation experiences to 70 Service field offices. About 17 percent of participants 36 / Fish & Wildlife News Spring 2013 our people in the program from 2008 to Tom earned degrees in fisheries 2011 have advanced to staff (BS, Utah State University) positions within the Service in memoriam and medical technology (MS, and an additional 2 percent fill State University of New York), temporary positions. Southeast and began his Service career as a biochemist at the Tunison The award was presented at Thomas Laboratory of Fish Nutrition The Wildlife Society’s 19th Hugh in New York (then in the U.S. annual national conference in McCartney, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Portland, Oregon, on October 15, a 30-year Wildlife and now the USGS 2012. Lamar Gore, acting chief Service Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic of Diversity and Civil Rights for employee, Science). Tom’s research the Service’s Northeast Region, died April focused on nutrition and accepted the award at the 6, 2013 at husbandry of trout and salmon, conference. his home in and his publications continue Willow Spring, North Carolina. to be used in fish physiology For more information on CDIP, He was much loved by his family literature. Tom moved from visit In retirement, Tom loved to travel, visit his grandchildren and make morning treks throughout the community. He enjoyed fishing, watching college women’s basketball and softball and college football. He continued to be an avid reader and reviewed his research work over the years. Tom is survived by his wife, the Rev. Carole McCartney, sons Gary, Doug and Dale, brother William, and brother-in-law David. They request that those wishing to honor Tom’s life consider a memorial contribution to White Memorial Presbyterian Church (1459 White Memorial At least 62 years old, Wisdom the albatross is a mother again for Church Rd., Willow Spring, North what is estimated to be at least the 30th time. Her chick hatched Carolina 27592) or Hospice of on Sunday morning, February 3, 2013, making it the sixth Wake County (250 Hospice consecutive year Wisdom has hatched an egg on Midway Atoll Circle, Raleigh, North Carolina National Wildlife Refuge. 27607). tt er/U S FW J. Klavi Spring 2013 Fish & Wildlife News / 37 Standard Presort Postage and Fees Office of Communications Paid U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the 4401 N. Fairfax Drive Interior Permit G-77 Room 330 Arlington, VA 22203 parting shot So Long, Farewell. Fish Biologist Sean Connolly and about 100 fourth- and fifth- graders from Boise-Eliot/Humboldt Elementary School gather at Drano Lake in Washington to say goodbye to the fish they have raised for the past 70 days as part of the Service’s Salmon in the Classroom program. Thanks to the innovative curriculum developed by the Columbia River Gorge National Fish Hatcheries Information and Education Office and the collaboration of partners at The Oregon Youth Development Council, The Black Parent Initiative and Portland Public Schools, these student scientists had a chance to observe and learn about the life cycles of salmon and the important of ecosystem health. ards/U S FW t E d w a P Fish & Wildlife News Submit articles and photographs to: Submission deadline: Editor: Matthew Trott U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Summer 2013: by June 21 Editorial adviser: Craig Rieben, Chief, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 332-A Internal Communications Arlington, VA 22203 Art director: Jane Pellicciotto, Allegro Design 703/358-2512 Fax: 703/358 1930 E-mail: [email protected] Printed on recycled paper